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As the world embraces the age of technology, everything is available online----including the sale of pets. Guardians of Rescue, a nationwide animal rescue organization, has stepped up to protect these poor animals from the cruelty of being bought and sold via the Internet. Guardians of Rescue is working with law enforcement in various states to try to reduce the amount of harm inflicted on these innocent dogs.

“Getting a new pet is always a big decision, and buying a dog you haven’t met in person is not smart,” says Dori Scofield, vice-president of Guardians of Rescue, an organization whose mission is to protect the well-being of all animals. “If you buy a dog through the Internet, you risk supporting puppy mill cruelty and being scammed out of your money. The Internet is also used by criminals to buy and sell fighting dogs, using certain understood language.”

If you looking to adopt a new dog, here are five tips to think about before you decide where to buy:

· Overrun Shelters. Certified shelters have millions of animals in need of a good home. Most shelter animals already have their shots and vaccines. These animals come from a reliable source and need a good home too.

· Sick Puppies. Sadly, many dogs sold online are the product of puppy mills. This means that they are raised in most likely malnourished with no previous veterinary care with a high chance of developing serious health problems later in life.

· Ridiculous Fees. When purchasing dogs via the Internet, the seller oftentimes inflates the purchase price, adding scam charges such as ‘rehoming fees.’ Shelter fees are almost always significantly less than the purchase price on sites such as Craigslist while providing important information, such as lineage and health forms.

· No oversight. The exchange of animals through the Internet lacks any form of monitoring or limitations. This allows the sellers to determine their own rules without fear of the law.

· Greed. The main motivation of sellers putting dogs up for adoption on the Internet is the prospect of gaining money. The health and safety of the dogs is not their top priority, harming both the animal and the potential buyer. The cost can skyrocket with additional fees and no oversight, creating a hazardous environment for all involved.

“One of our investigators purchased a pit bull off of Craigslist. He asked the owner how the dog would get along with others, purposefully alluding to whether or not it was a fighting dog. The owner stated that she was sure that the dog could hold it’s own and sold the dog for a rehoming fee. Thankfully, the dog is safely in our care now,” affirms Robert Misseri, founder and president of Guardians of Rescue. “ There are ways to verify Internet sellers, such as Googling their phone numbers and addresses to check for authenticity, or insisting on health records before the purchase of your pup. However, the best course of action is to visit your local animal shelters, where there are many healthy dogs in need of loving homes. Be a hero - get your dog from a shelter.”

Guardians of Rescue provides assistance to animals out on the streets, helping to rescue them, provide medical care, food and shelter, and find foster home placement. Many families are still struggling to recover from the storm, making it difficult to care for their pet, either financially or while living in temporary housing. To learn more, or to make a donation to support the Guardians of Rescue, log onto www.guardiansofrescue.org.